Maidstone: Kent Family Hub Could your story help another parent?

 

Now recruiting parents and carers of children aged 0 to 5 to join a co-design group for a new podcast series exploring the joys and challenges of early parenthood.

Click HERE for further information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Q&A session with the UK Nursery Authority policy team - 30th September 2026, 10:30am

30 September, 10:30. Q&A session with the UK Nursery Authority policy team

Service personnel and their families are invited to attend a Q&A session with the UKNA policy team on Wednesday 30 September at 10.30am.

This session offers the opportunity to ask questions directly. If you would like to attend, please complete the UK Nursery Authority families Q&A form. The team will then send you an email invite.

Aldershot: Stay and Play Group Maurice Toye House, Every Tuesday from 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service - Stay & Play Group Quetta Park Community Hall Every Thursday 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

MOD ‘UK Nursery Authority’ childcare support: How to register and claim

From 1 September 2026, eligible working Service families who live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can get help with early years childcare costs.

If you would get 'free' (Government funded) childcare hours if based in England, Defence’s UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) childcare scheme will now help cover the difference in cost where you live.

It’s important to understand that UKNA does not give you a childcare space. It pays back money to eligible families who have already paid for early years childcare.

Who is eligible for UKNA

You may register for UKNA, if all the following apply:

• You are a Regular or Full-Time Reserve (Full Commitment) member of the Service
• Your family lives in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent family) earn at least the same as 16 hours a week at the UK National Minimum or Living Wage
• Neither parent (or the sole parent) earns more than £100,000 adjusted net income a year
• Your child is recorded and verified on JPA
• Your child is aged 9 months to 3 years old, in Scotland and Wales ​
• Your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old, in Northern Ireland
• You have an active Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account for your child: ‘active’ means you confirm your details every three months and get the top-up from HMRC when you add money
• Your childcare provider accepts TFC payments – all UKNA claims must first be paid through your child's TFC account
• Your child lives with you at least half the time, unless you're separated for Service reasons

How to register and claim

Hampshire: HCC Fostering services

Visit the Hampshire County Council website to find out more about how you can start your fostering journey.

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Oxfordshire: Fostering with Oxfordshire County Council

Fostering with Oxfordshire County Council and the difference it makes. 

It might be early days and you're just curious, you may have questions that you would like answering or have been thinking about fostering for a while - take a look at the website for more information. 

Click HERE for more information. 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

London: Home Start London

Home Start are there for parents when they need it the most because childhood can’t wait

All parents struggle at one time or another and Home-Start is ready to support London families through their toughest times.

Home-Start trains and supports volunteers to work alongside parents in their own home giving compassionate and confidential support, tailored to each family. Home-Start London is a consortium of 12 local Home-Starts operating across 24 London boroughs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Shorncliffe: Army Welfare Service SANO NANEE Home Start Shorncliffe Community Centre Parent & Toddler Group Every Monday from 1000 - 1130hrs

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Leuchars: Bright Horizons Day Care Centre and UK Nursery Authority

click on image to enlarge

Further information can be found at Childcare for Service children - GOV.UK

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Moray: Moray Pathways Childcare Network Event Friday 21st August

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Scotland: The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) support packages to help get you started as a Childminder

If you're looking for a flexible career that fits around your own family life, the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) offers a fantastic package of support to help you get started through the Programme for Scotland's Childminding Future (PSCF).

The PSCF support package includes:
⭐ One-to-one support every step of the way from SCMA
⭐A minimum £750 business start-up grant
⭐ Free online training
⭐ Free SCMA membership for one year

Why become a childminder?
💛Contribute to children's learning and wellbeing
💛 Earn while caring for your own family
💛 Be your own boss
💛 Provide a vital service for families in your local community

To find out more about starting a career in childminding, visit:

👉Find out more about becoming a childminder

You can also attend one of SCMA's free online Discovery Sessions to learn more about how childminding could work for you.

👉Book a free Discovery Session

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Falkland: Little Bugs at Falkland Estate - a place to explore, discover and grow coming Early 2027

🌿🐞We have been absolutely bursting to share this one…

The next Little Bugs nursery is planned for the beautiful Falkland Estate 🌳💚

Plans are now officially underway, thhis will be the third fully outdoor nursery, welcoming children aged 2–5 years for year-round care and bringing the Little Bugs approach to an incredible new woodland setting.

🌳 Outdoor childhood, every day
🐞 Year-round care for ages 2–5
🌿 Fully outdoor early learning
💚 Plans to offer funded ELC places

There is still lots happening behind the scenes before families through the gates.

If you already think Little Bugs Falkland could be the place for your little bug, complete the pre-application form now to register your interest and be among the first invited to see the site when we're ready to show you around.

 👉[Complete our pre-application form here 🐞🌿](https://2g601x.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2fXMLBoUwRpysaT8cdvPLzw)

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service Stay & Play Group at Quetta Park, Community Hall, Church Crookham, Every Thursday 1000hrs - 1130hrs starts 15th January 2026

 

AWS works in collaboration with local authorities to deliver partnership workshops that support families in health and learning development. These sessions run during term time and are inclusive and open to all families in the community.

 Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Aldershot: Stay and Play Group at Maurice Toye House 27 Midddle Hill, Every Tuesday from 1000hrs - 1130hrs

 

AWS works in collaboration with local authorities to deliver partnership workshops that support families in health and learning development. These sessions run during term time and are inclusive and open to all families in the community.

 Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Leuchars: Bright Horizons Day Care Centre

click on image to enlarge

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Moray: Early Learning and Childcare Information for Military families by Moray Council

click on image to enlarge

Moray Council have developed this ELC information to support Military families moving to the area.

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Grantham: Ashbourne Day Nurseries - Special Offer supporting Prince William of Gloucester Barracks

www.ashbournedaynurseries.com

Information provided by Grantham HIVE 

Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service Give Us a Hand

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

New early years childcare scheme, UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) to launch from September 2026

New early years childcare scheme, UK Nursery Authority (UKNA) to launch from September 2026

Please note that some links within this article are only accessible to those with MODnet and Defence Connect access.

Are you planning to use Defence childcare schemes from September?

Information and updates about new and existing Defence childcare schemes.

UKNA is a new Defence childcare scheme that will support eligible working Service families who live in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs, matching the “free” (Government funded) childcare hours they would be entitled to if assigned to England.

Note: UKNA does not provide childcare spaces, it is a reimbursement of costs incurred when eligible working families pay for early years childcare.

For detailed policy information including the eligibility criteria search ‘UK Nursery Authority’ at DINs Search (Defnet) or Group: Defence Instruction Notices - DIN's | Defence Connect.

Why is UKNA being introduced?

Defence recognises the importance of supporting service families. Service families can be assigned anywhere in the world, however the funded early years childcare offer differs across the UK. Families assigned to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland receive fewer Government funded childcare hours than similar working families in England or those assigned overseas. UKNA has been developed to address this difference for working families.

Defence remains committed to supporting our dedicated personnel who serve to protect our nation, alongside our families who make extraordinary sacrifices to support them.

See the UKNA announcement (March 2026)

Who is eligible for UKNA?

• Regular or Full-Time Reserve Service (Full Commitment) personnel.
• The family lives in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
• Both parents or a sole parent in a lone parent family meets the minimum earnings threshold of at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the UK National Minimum or Living Wage.
• Either parent or a sole parent in a lone parent family does not exceed the maximum earnings threshold of £100,000 adjusted net income per year.
• Child is recorded and verified on JPA.
• An active Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) account is in place for the child. Active means that parents reconfirm eligibility every 3 months and receive the top up from HMRC when they add money to the account. 
• The childcare provider accepts TFC payments; all UKNA claims must first be paid via the child’s active TFC account.
• Child lives with the Service parent for at least 50% of the time except when separated for service reasons.  

How can Service personnel register for UKNA?

Registration information will be available from September 2026.

To get ready for registration, check that:

• You meet the eligibility criteria
• Your child has an active Tax-Free Childcare account
• Your child is recorded on JPA.

If you need help with JPA, contact your unit HR.

UKNA claims information

The number of hours that can be claimed via the UKNA reimbursement scheme differs between locations because the Government offers in those locations differ:

• For children aged between 9 months and 2 years old, eligible families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can claim up to 30 hours per week for 38 weeks per year.
• In Northern Ireland, families with children aged 3 can claim up to 30 hours weekly for 38 weeks, while those with 4-year-olds can claim up to 17.5 hours per week for 38 weeks per year.

UKNA is a reimbursement for childcare costs; it is deemed an extra income which makes it a ‘taxable benefit’ by HMRC. To offset this, Defence pays extra to cover any tax and National Insurance (NI) payments you may incur when making UKNA claims – this is called grossing up. This process can have a knock-on effect on your individual tax and NI allowance and brackets.

You can find further information about UKNA and grossing up on the Defence Childcare Information Page.

Information about how to submit claims will be added prior to the scheme launch.

UKNA bedding-in

UKNA is a new scheme, and as it is implemented, some minor adjustments may be required where aspects have not been fully captured in the guidance or are not working as intended. We have a mailbox that is monitored Monday to Friday, so if you have any questions about the scheme that we haven’t covered, or if you notice that something isn’t quite right, please let us know, our email address is included at the bottom of this article. There will be no changes to the policy rules, however your feedback will help us to make amendments to guidance where needed, which may help other families using the scheme.

We will be holding a Q&A session for families in September, so please look out for that being advertised.

Early years funded childcare overseas

All families in England with children aged 3 to 4 years old, and 2-year-old children, in receipt of additional government support, are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week. This is known as the ‘universal entitlement’.

For eligible working families, the entitlement is 30 hours per week for children aged 9 months old to school age. These entitlements are capped at the equivalent of 38 weeks per year.

In overseas locations where the children of entitled Defence staff have no statutory entitlement to access host nation provision, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) delivers the same entitlement through places at Defence Children Services (DCS) schools and settings or through access to the MOD Overseas Nursery Authority, (ONA) (GOV.UK).

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme including Primary School Aged Childcare Overseas (PSACO)

The WAC scheme (including PSACO) provides eligible Service families with better flexibility and affordable childcare support.

Eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if child is in receipt of UK disability benefits) can claim up to 20 hours per week of funding for each child attending before and after school care during term time (up to 39 weeks per year).

Wraparound Childcare is known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Age Childcare’ in Scotland.

The PSACO scheme provides a reimbursement of costs for before and after school childcare in overseas locations where due to local rules or regulations it is not possible for WAC eligibility criteria to be met, or because Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) accounts are not available.

WAC and PSACO funding do not provide childcare spaces; the funding is a reimbursement for costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.

When to register for WAC or PSACO

Eligible Service personnel with 4-year-old children starting full-time education (reception / P1 (including home education)) in the autumn term can register from 01 September.

If your children are already registered, you do not need to re-register unless your account shows your child as de-registered. De-registration can happen when there are changes to your JPA record such as a new assignment.

Update to WAC and PSACO capped hourly rates

The WAC and PSACO capped hourly rates are updated each year prior to the start of the autumn term. The rates may go both up and down. This will affect the amount that can be claimed. The updated rates will be published in the DIN, and on the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or Defence Connect.

Where to find further information about Defence childcare schemes

For detailed policy information including the eligibility criteria search the relevant DIN - ‘UK Nursery Authority’ / ‘Wraparound Childcare’ / ‘Primary School Aged Childcare Overseas’ / ‘Early Years Funded Childcare Overseas’ at DINs Search (Defnet) or Group: Defence Instruction Notices - DIN's | Defence Connect.

Defence Childcare Information Page defnet or Defence Connect

Discover My Benefits webpage (www)

Childcare for Service children - GOV.UK

Have questions?

Personnel and Service families can email the policy team:

For UKNA or ONA People-affs-child-expenses@mod.gov.uk

For WAC or PSACO People-affs-wac-fro-mailbox@mod.gov.uk